What Does Aloe Vera Do? Gut Health Benefits

Author's Bio: Katie Bailey, MS, RD, LD, FNC

Hi everyone. Welcome back.

When you think of Aloe Vera, many individuals think of it as a way for soothing sunburns, but it has much more to offer than just skincare known for its soothing gel and juice. Aloe Vera's health benefits extend far beyond the surface, especially when it comes to gut health.

So in today's video I'll be discussing what is aloe vera and what is it used for?

What are the health benefits of aloe vera?

How does aloe vera benefit gut health?

How do you use aloe vera and are there any precautions to be aware of?

Hi, I'm Katie Bailey. I'm a registered dietitian at Flusso Nutrients where we provide supplement education and professional quality supplement options for you to make the world of nutrition supplements a little bit easier to navigate.

As always, be sure to check with your main nutrition literate healthcare provider before starting anything new. As we can't know your full medical history to provide a personalized recommendation.

Without further ado, let's jump into today's topic.

[Video Transcript Below + Supplement Links Discussed In Video]

What is aloe vera and what is it used for?

So aloe vera is a succulent plant that has thick gel filled leaves that have been used for centuries. In traditional medicine, the gel and the juice that's extracted from the plant is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, antioxidants, as well as other plant compounds. Traditionally, aloe vera has been used for soothing burns, skin irritations, moisturizing the skin, as well as promoting hair and scalp health. Now it's used in the cosmetic industry and a lot of different products such as shampoos, moisturizers, soaps, lotions, and different creams. It's also used in the food and pharmaceutical companies industries for topical applications as well as oral use. Now, it's also being used for its other numerous benefits including gut health and for that purpose it's found in liquid and supplement form.

What are the health benefits of aloe vera?

The first is skin and hair health.

So it has hydrating antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that really help to hydrate, soothe, and heal skin irritations, reduce dandruff and soothe and itchy scalp. And research suggests that it may be beneficial for individuals with psoriasis dermatitis, surgical wounds, and burn injuries.

The second benefit is immune function or immune support.

So it's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects really help to stimulate and support our immune function, combating oxidative stress and reducing inflammation. Next is blood sugar regulations. So there's some research showing that aloe vera may help to decrease blood sugar levels in pre-diabetes and type two diabetes.

And then lastly, gut health, and that's the benefit that we're going to talk about next.

How is aloe vera beneficial for gut health?

So aloe vera offers several gut health benefits, primarily through its anti-inflammatory laxative and microbiome supporting properties. The first is that it can soothe and reduce digestive inflammation. So aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory compounds that calm irritation in the GI tract. It contains polysaccharides that help to form a soothing film along the lining of the digestive tract to calm irritation. And studies have shown that aloe vera can decrease inflammatory markers and maybe effective and managing conditions like inflammatory bowel diseases.

The next benefit is that it has the potential to relieve constipation. So aloe vera contains compounds specifically in the latex layer that act as a natural laxative increasing water in the intestines and making stool easier to pass. Now, I do want to note that although it can be beneficial for some individuals in this regard, it should be used with the help of a practitioner as it's not a long-term solution for constipation and there can be side effects.

Next is that it can support digestion and nutrient absorption. So due to the enzymes that are found in aloe vera, it can help to assist in the breakdown of your food and improve nutrient absorption.

Another benefit that we use aloe vera a lot for is managing GERD and heartburn. So some studies suggest that aloe vera can help to reduce symptoms of GERD by calming the burning sensation in the esophagus by decreasing inflammation, and some studies have found that even as effective as some reflux medications.

The last benefit is IBS in general gut support. So studies have shown that it can help to manage IBS symptoms because of its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties as well as its potential to balance out our gut microbiome. It has prebiotic effects, meaning it's going to help to feed that beneficial bacteria in the gut.

How do you use aloe vera and are there any precautions to be aware of?

So aloe vera is available in juice gel and supplement form. When used topically, it can be applied directly to the skin to help soothe or moisturize your skin. When you do it this way, you want to make sure if it's the first time you've used it, you'd want to apply it a small amount to your skin first just to make sure that you specifically don't have any reactions to the product.

Generally, most people don't have a reaction, but there is the chance for oral use. There's the juice and the supplement form, and it's always important, as we say, with anything else to start at a low dose and increase as tolerated to make sure that you don't have any problems with that specific product. And as always, check with your healthcare provider before starting anything new. And then when we use it for gerd, it's recommended to have it before your meal or you can use it as needed. When you're having those symptoms, you want to look for good quality brands that are specifically designed for consumption.

Ideally, they're decolorized and purified to help decrease the risk of side effects. Now, oral use of aloe vera is generally considered safe for short-term use, but use caution, especially with allo latex as that can cause side effects like abdominal pain, cramping and diarrhea in some individuals if taken in excess or long-term. Now, it's not recommended for those that are breastfeeding or pregnant and if it has the potential to affect blood sugar. So if you are on blood sugar lowering medication, it's always important to check with your doctor first

To wrap up my topic for today,

Aloe vera is more than just the skin soother and it offers variety of different health benefits, especially gut health, from easing constipation, reflux and IBS symptoms to supporting overall gut health through decreasing inflammation and supporting a healthy gut microbiome. Aloe vera can be a great addition to your lifestyle if it is used correctly. If you're interested in trying aloe vera, I'll have a quality option linked below in the description box.

That's it for today's video. If you like this video, please hit the like button and subscribe for more nutrition videos. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions. And if you're interested in working with our clinic, you could click the link here to schedule an appointment. We do take insurance. You can find more information about that on our website.

Thank you for watching. I'll see you next time. Bye.

Check out the high-quality supplements we discussed in this video - links below for your convenience!

1) Super Aloe 250 mg by Ortho Molecular Products: create an account here, then search the name "Super Aloe 250 mg by Ortho Molecular Products" - https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/flussonutrients

2) ALL PROFESSIONAL QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS: https://flussonutrients.nutridyn.com & https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/flussonutrients